This Friday’s Harvest Moon, on 16 September 2016, will rise looking dimmer than usual over Europe and Africa because it will be undergoing a lunar eclipse.

The eclipse will be enough to reduce the Full Moon’s usual brilliant glare, but it will not go deep red, as it does during a total lunar eclipse. That only happens at a total eclipse, when Earth blocks out the whole Sun, putting the Moon completely in shadow.

Instead, the Moon will be passing through the outer part of the Earth’s shadow, or umbra – a region known as the penumbra. This penumbral shadow is lighter because it is cast where the Earth is only partly blocking out the Sun. If you were able to stand on the Moon, you would see a partial eclipse of the Sun. It will still be an event that amateur astronomers won’t want to miss.

Here is our full guide to eclipses of the Moon.

Clear skies willing, this week’s eclipse can also be seen by stargazers in India and the Far East, as well as Australia and New Zealand, where it occurs before moonset. You don’t need a telescope or binoculars to view it, though it will be a good opportunity to observe the features making up the face of the “Man in the Moon” without so much glare.

Unfortunately for observers in North and most of South America, the eclipse will be over by the time the Moon rises there. Only the eastern part of Brazil will catch the end of the eclipse at moonrise.

The eclipse begins when the Moon starts to enter the penumbra at 16.55 UT. Mid eclipse occurs at 18.54 UT, and it all ends when the trailing edge of the Moon leaves the Earth’s outer shadow at 20.54 UT.

If you enjoy amateur astronomy, then don’t forget to check out our guide to what else you can see in this month’s night sky.